Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1882 — NO RELIEF FROM THE CRUSHING TAXATION. [ARTICLE]

NO RELIEF FROM THE CRUSHING TAXATION.

The sham which originated in the House of Representatives pretending to be a relief from taxation, but which was really contrived in the interest of the banks, of the proprietors of patent medicines, of the dealers in perfumery and of the monopoly of manufacturing matches, may now be regarded as dead and done for. Alarmed at the signs of public re» sentment against Congress, the Senate committee sought to propitiate favor by adding steel and shugar to the other items. When the bill was reported to the Senate in this changed form, the door was at once opened to amendment. The Democrats were placed in a position to test the sincerity of the Republican side by proposing real measures of general relief, all of which were quite as germane as the amendments which emanated from the Republican caucus.

The Record shows how these positions were received, and it also shows that, after days of discussion, the Republicans abandoned their bill and took np instead that enormous swindle which Secor Robeson proposed and carried through the House to secure his monitor job, and to punish a number of officers who had disapproved of his corrupt manage-, ment of the Navy under Gen. Grant. This retreat leaves the Republican party in a grave dilemma for the fall

I elections. The reckless profligacy and prodigality of this Congress exceed all experience. The farmers, the mechanics, the laborers, and the plain people, as Mr. Lincoln called them, who pay the great body of the taxes by the sweat of their brows, have cried aloud for relief; and they have cried in vain. Congress adjourned leaving a die- | creditable record. It has voted away the people’s money in wild fxtrava*. gance, without any honest attempt to reduce the burdens that weigh upon industry and enterprise. If the Democrats are at a’l wise iu their nominations and presenting the issue of retrenchment and reform, as they did in 1874 history will be apt to repeat itself in the experience of the cumirtg elections.